2008 Woodie Awards
Gridiron Show spoofs local newsmakers
Samantha Sigmon
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Life & Style
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If you've been in the news this year, you might be in danger. No newsmaker over the last year is safe from being spoofed when local journalists present 2007's Northwest Arkansas "Gridiron Show" this weekend.
"The 'Gridiron' takes newsmakers and grills them," said Katherine Shurlds, production director of the show. "We make references to some things that don't get to make it into the newspapers because journalists have to be objective all of the time," she said. "And the newsmakers love it, too."
Topics like the tumultuous Razorback program last year, Wal-Mart's spying allegations and the 2008 presidential race will all be spoofed when the show begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 and again on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Rogers Little Theatre. The show is written, directed and performed by the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, who poke fun at this year's newsmakers in sketch and song, according to the press release.
The "Gridiron" returned in 2004 after a 14-year hiatus, with the help of the Fayetteville branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Before that, the show began in 1978 and ran for 13 years, Shurlds, who has been involved with the production since 1979, said.
Except for the emcee, only journalists are allowed to be onstage. Most of the cast comes from local newspapers, television, radio and the UA journalism department.
There are seven UA journalism students, recent graduate and two journalism faculty members in the cast.
Rusty Turner, the Monday editor of the Morning News, is the stage director. UA senior Rachel Marlow is the choreographer who has made the most elaborate and best dances there have ever been in the show, Shurlds said. Newsmakers are not allowed onstage; "It's our turn now," according to the production's Web site.
Planning for this year's show began in July with casting at the end of August. This week, they have been at the theater every night. Journalists participating in the show come from a variet of locations in Northwest Arkansas. There will be two 45-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission between them. Altogether, there are 23 skits and songs consisting of mostly local humor, with some state and national topics as well. The cast will be in the audience before and after the show and during the intermission, Shurlds said.
"The 'Gridiron' takes newsmakers and grills them," said Katherine Shurlds, production director of the show. "We make references to some things that don't get to make it into the newspapers because journalists have to be objective all of the time," she said. "And the newsmakers love it, too."
Topics like the tumultuous Razorback program last year, Wal-Mart's spying allegations and the 2008 presidential race will all be spoofed when the show begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 and again on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Rogers Little Theatre. The show is written, directed and performed by the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, who poke fun at this year's newsmakers in sketch and song, according to the press release.
The "Gridiron" returned in 2004 after a 14-year hiatus, with the help of the Fayetteville branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Before that, the show began in 1978 and ran for 13 years, Shurlds, who has been involved with the production since 1979, said.
Except for the emcee, only journalists are allowed to be onstage. Most of the cast comes from local newspapers, television, radio and the UA journalism department.
There are seven UA journalism students, recent graduate and two journalism faculty members in the cast.
Rusty Turner, the Monday editor of the Morning News, is the stage director. UA senior Rachel Marlow is the choreographer who has made the most elaborate and best dances there have ever been in the show, Shurlds said. Newsmakers are not allowed onstage; "It's our turn now," according to the production's Web site.
Planning for this year's show began in July with casting at the end of August. This week, they have been at the theater every night. Journalists participating in the show come from a variet of locations in Northwest Arkansas. There will be two 45-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission between them. Altogether, there are 23 skits and songs consisting of mostly local humor, with some state and national topics as well. The cast will be in the audience before and after the show and during the intermission, Shurlds said.
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